Medias Rojas!

They like me... they really like me

As I walked the city streets today, people seemed particularly friendly and so happy to see me.

Hola, Chris.  Why aren't you waving back.

Some people react this way when they see me.... but only in my dreams

Yes, they totally ignore me.

This form of promotion and advertising is fairly common here.  I get fooled every now and then.

Hip shots

I regularly practice shooting blind, from the hip, in the hopes that when I really need a certain clandestine shot, it will be there.  These are from market day in Tlacolula.

This one has a nice spacey feel with the carnival rides in the background.

Practice, practice, practice.

I'll take that one

The Joker has designs on some pan dulces.  Watch out for the "sugar high."

These are from a wall outside a cafe in Tlacolula.  In this one, mom is obviously using the blue plastic to shield her boy.  It worked.  He was unharmed.

Love the colors in this shot.

Anonymous Nuerotics?

Every year, murals and signs appear for symposia entitled "Neuroticos Anonimos."  I guess it must be some sort of self-awareness and self-help thing.  Well, thanks very much, but I have no problem with my neurosis, but I am conflicted about being the center of the universe and remaining anonymous. 

At any rate, these events seem to get lots of coverage and I am not sure why this TV crew was outside the cathedral doing a shoot with Neurotics Anonymous posters on the sides of the tent, when I noticed the figure in the background.  The juxtapositioning was sobering.

Primal scream time?

As Elphaba, you know, the Wicked Witch of the West, says, "What a world. What a world."

Here, the teachers from Section 22 have returned to start the school year after eight weeks of strikes and protests. In many villages they have not been welcomed back with open arms.  In certain places parents have put up barricades and stood vigils to prevent the teachers from entering.  Things are tense, but judging from the news sources, it seems to be going well.  However, nothing has really been resolved and the struggles continue.  The teachers who were protesting will receive back pay for the time they were on strike.

No, these guys are not anarchist punks..... well, maybe

And in El Norte?  Words fail.  However, the teaparty folks do fit the descriptions of anarchist punks.  The shutdown has overloaded and shutdown my ability to comprehend the level of insanity and stupidity that has taken hold.

I guess we just keep on keepin' on.

Meditation

Another calenda in Tlacolula

Tlacolula, the city of marmotas (over 100, yes, I counted) and traditional calendas that dazzle the eyes with beauty and elevate the soul with a sense joy and happiness.  People are real nice there, too.
And so it was last Friday, as we returned for the second fiesta in as many weeks,  This calenda or procession began with a mass at the church and then proceeded through the streets, stopping at fourteen different stations for blessings, food and drink over the span of 8-10 hours.  The whole thing is a photographer's dream because of all the beauty and color that swirls all around.

But it is the people that make it all so special. 

Placing flowers in the canastas, baskets, that will be carried.  They can weigh up to thirty kilos!  And the marmotas up to 80 kilos!!  No wonder I was shocked by how heavy they were last week when I tried to dance with one.

 Ready and waiting.

The abuleo who leads the procession playing a drum.

 The baskets are filled with sweets and candies that get thrown into the crowds

 So many classic portraits.....

And of course, this beauty who played me like a violin and stole my heart.... ahhhh.

 You can see why.

 Now, time to jump in the car and head back to Tlacolula for the last day of the fiesta.  More in a bit.

Proud papa

Well, sorta. "Escape from Tomorrow" is a film getting quite a bit of buzz and.... it is the work of one of my former students, Randy Moore.  I really am not that amazed by his success, because even at age 15, Randy produced works of genius.  We spent a lot of time together and I will happily take a minute amount of credit for doing my best to totally warp him, often with effusive and positive encouragement and at the same time, harsh criticisms.

from The Daily Beast (Hot damn, Rando!)

Shot guerrilla-style—read: completely unauthorized—at Walt Disney World and Disneyland, ‘Escape From Tomorrow’ is the year’s most renegade film. From security concerns to editing in South Korea, the cast and crew tell Marlow Stern how it came to cinemas.

Another hit from Huffington Post.

Certainly one of the most sublime intangibles of teaching is watching former students succeed in so many venues, but I get the most joy from the artists, actors and musicians of which there are hundreds.  Facebook is certainly great in that respect.

Mid afternoon snack

Total bull - as always

There are tradeoffs no matter where you live.  I miss lots of the action in the city and almost all of the night life.  Still, living in the country has its advantages, like this field I pass everyday.  I love how the clouds drape themselves on the mountains.  Most days, these days, they just sit there long after the normal burn off time.

And in this field there were some steer (eieio)

And one of those steers found a snack in a nearly cleared patch. 

He is noshing on Sansevieria or snake plant or mother-in-law tongue, which I explained to him was toxic.  He did not seem to care.

But if that is not a guilty look, I don't know what is.

No te preocupes. Tengo esto.

Don't worry 'bout it.  I got this!

We are in good hands.

Visions of Tlacolula

A few more shots from Tlacolula. 

I love the family shots.  It is so nice to see how strongly these traditions continue.

Father and son on their way..... Dad in traditional outfit as well.

It is tough to be this cool.

One moment, just standing there looking fine...

What's that guy behind them up to?

The next, engulfed in the smoke from fireworks, right behind them.

Can't wait to return on Friday.

Both sides now

Just working on shots from the calenda in Talcolula last week.  Because it is a slow moving event and there is a lot of standing around, drinking in the sights, sounds, smells and ambiance, one has an opportunity to take multiple shots of the same people.  And there are always ones who captivate me and you can see why.

 A classic shot

Or this beautiful woman.

She manages to look so elegant carrying the canasta.  I think it is the placement of her hands and the arch of her arms.

Dare I say it? She makes it look sexy.